The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-05-22
GARLANDs FOR GRANTS TOMB.
An Account of Some of the Sources
from Which They Come.

An Account or Some or the Sources
from Which They Come.
NEW YORK, May 21.-Seeing SO many
beautiful flowers heaped upon the tomb of
Gen. Grant--which visited the other day
my curiosity was excited by the question,
Where do they come from, and do they
serve no other purpose than to deck the
great soldiers resting place until they diel
Garlands are appropriate to the soldiers
living or dead, but the best men are not re-
membered always and so the profusion of
the flowers surprised me.
A few days later, in conversation with
Col Fred Grant, I learned the sources of
the garlands, and also that their usefulness
outlives their beauty
my mother has always visited the tomb
every day until the last two weels,n said
Col. Grant. "Then she caught cold, and it
settled into serious illness, which has CON
fined her to her room and to the doctors
care, so that she could not make her daily
visits"
docs the family furnish all the floral
decorations which fill the vaultfI asked.
''No, no indeed, we do not" replied Col.
Grant "Once every week my mother takes
out large design made of cat flowers.
These remain there until she orders the
guard to remove them and replace them
with the fresh ones she may sepd So that
all the time her selection of flowers is
there.
1.-THE other flowers are from friends,
them"
''Some are, but the majority are from
strangers. | can say that, daily, without an
exception, floral renembrances are received
from all parts of the United States. We
order them placed in the vault, where they
remain until faded and withered."
"Who generally sends themr
"Well, they come in all ways; from
Grand Army posts, clubs, societies, school
and mission children. Then private people,
bother this and other cities, send beauti-
full remembrances III floral work."
''When the Americas Club of Pittsburg,"
he continued, celebrated the anniversary
of Gen. Grants birthday they sent me an
invitation and attended. At the same time
they sent costly pillow, of the most ex-
quisite flowers | ever saw, TO be placed in
the tomb. just at the same date number
Of school children Of Los Angeles, Cal,
sent mass of beautiful flowers, which
reached here in pafect state of preser-
walton. They attracted great deal OF adj
miration."
''What is done with all the faded flow
ersP
"They never go to waste" was the reply.
solicitations arrive in numbers daily from
people Of all classes and stations in life, beg
cling for some momento from Gen. Grants
tomb. They ask something, ii it be no
more than a withered leaf or bud. The
guards are continually promising the faded
flowers to visitors, always providing Mrs.
Grant gives permission or has not promised
them elsewhere. Some get an entire design,
which they have framed to preserve the
faded flowers, but the demand is 30 much
greater that the supply, regardless Of all
the flowers received daily, that they are
generally divided. Just the other day Mrs.
Grant gave Miss Helen Desmond large pill
low from the Generals tomb. Miss Des-
mond, believe, intended to present it 10
some post. Since my father was buried
know that not even faded bud taken from
his tomb has been thrown away
NELLIE BLY,.